Six Barbour Jackets, From the Bedale to the Cropped Spey
Compare six Barbour jackets by fit, fabric and heritage, from the roomy Bedale to the tailored Beacon, with details to help match each cut to your wardrobe.
Barbour’s familiar waxed cotton, corduroy collars and tartan linings are only the starting point. The six jackets here reflect different jobs and silhouettes: a shorter riding cut, a longer country coat, a belted motorcycle style and options that trade coverage for a trimmer or more tailored fit. The right one depends on how you want it to sit and what you plan to wear beneath it.
BarbourBarbour’s jacket heritage reaches back to the 1800s, and its best-known models grew out of distinct uses. Horseback riding called for a shorter hem; outdoor pursuits called for more coverage and storage. You don’t need to ride to appreciate those design choices, but knowing what they do makes it easier to choose a jacket that fits your routine.
Bedale: the short, familiar cut
BarbourBarbour Bedale Waxed Jacket
Dame Margaret Barbour designed the Bedale in 1980 for horseback riding. Its shorter body and rear vents allow movement without excess fabric, giving the jacket a recognizable profile that works well off the saddle, too.
Roomy bellows pockets provide storage, while vertical hand pockets offer a place to tuck your hands. Ribbed inner cuffs help block chilly air, and the front storm flap buttons up to the neck when the collar is raised.
The classic Bedale uses 6-ounce Sylkoil waxed cotton for a softer, matte appearance. The Bedale Original instead has 6-ounce Thornproof cotton, with a smoother finish. Its relaxed fit leaves room for layers, making this the straightforward pick if you want a shorter, traditional shape.
Beaufort: more length and storage
BarbourBarbour Beaufort Waxed Jacket
Created by Margaret Barbour in 1983, the Beaufort was inspired by traditional French country jackets. Think of it as a longer, looser counterpart to the Bedale: its back length is 84cm, so it offers more coverage and is less likely to ride up. The Classic model has a full-width rear game pocket, and the Beaufort comes in three versions.
Its 6-ounce waxed cotton shell and cotton tartan lining echo the Bedale’s materials. Adjustable wind cuffs help refine the fit; moleskin handwarmer pockets are included on the Original and Classic versions. The nylon-lined rear pocket has zippered access, which helps with storage and clean-up after use.
International: a belted motorcycle original
BarbourBarbour International Original Waxed Jacket
Barbour introduced the International in 1936. Steve McQueen later wore one while riding with the American team at the 1964 International Six Days Trial, giving the jacket a second, well-known association.
The Original keeps its waist belt, buckle-fastening throat strap and four snap-fastening pockets. Its left chest pocket angles for access while riding and was intended for maps. At 8 ounces, the Sylkoil cotton is heavier than the fabric used in the Bedale and Beaufort, a choice suited to riders exposed to the elements. The tailored waist and motorcycling details set it apart, though finding one may take extra searching: the model is currently exclusive to overseas markets.
Spey: cropped, with fishing details
BarbourBarbour Spey Slim Waxed Jacket
Originally made for fly fishing, the Spey keeps a short body that creates a distinct silhouette. It pairs naturally with high-rise trousers, though that cropped shape means less protection from the weather than the longer jackets offer.
A chest D-ring, first intended to clip on a fishing net, carries through the original design. The jacket also has a corduroy collar, throat flap and two lower jetted pockets. Choose it for a modern, cropped look that keeps familiar Barbour materials and fishing references in view.
Ashby: a trimmer take on the Bedale
BarbourBarbour Ashby Waxed Jacket
The Ashby borrows the Bedale’s general silhouette, then narrows the fit for a more tailored everyday jacket. Its 6-ounce Sylkoil cotton has a matte finish and a softer, more lived-in feel than Thornproof.
Slanted handwarmer pockets and bellows pockets preserve the practical layout. The cut still leaves room for seasonal layers, but bulky knitwear may feel snug. It suits someone who wants the classic look in a closer-fitting shape.
Beacon: the dressed-up option
BarbourBarbour Beacon Sports Waxed Jacket
The Beacon draws on a jacket created with To Ki To Sports for Skyfall, worn by Daniel Craig as James Bond. Its blazer-style button front is a clear departure from the zip-front country jackets. Leather shoulder and elbow patches, leather cuffs and a triangular throat flap bring tailored details into the fieldwear mix.
Wear the lapels open for a relaxed look or fasten the collar on brisk days. Barbour recommends sizing up because the Beacon runs snug, a useful point to account for before choosing a size.
Details behind the design
The Beaufort’s game pocket is a large compartment spanning the back, originally designed to carry game birds. Its nylon lining and zippered access make it useful for storage and easier clean-up.
Tartan is a repeating pattern of intersecting colored stripes, often linked with Scottish heritage. Barbour introduced its first exclusive design, Classic Tartan, in 1998 with Kinloch Anderson. Patterns vary by jacket and colorway.
Thornproof is a traditional waxed-cotton finish developed to resist thorns; it has a smoother feel. Sylkoil is softer, more textured and matte, with a worn-in appearance. It appears on jackets such as the Ashby and is generally used on Classic versions.
The Stormfly is the protective flap over a jacket’s main zipper, often secured with snaps. Across these six models, that practical detail and the choice of fabric matter as much as the silhouette: compare length, room for layers and pocket layout before settling on the look.
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